Our Nissan is 20 years old!

How many of you have had the same car for 20 years? Yeah, I know, not many right?
We bought our Nissan Sentra in 1994.  It was on the show room floor and Rick actually drove it away from there.  We leased it for a few years and then eventually bought it outright.  It's now 2014.  That's 20 glorious years of family history in that car.  That little car has seen us through thick and a lot of thin. It has a standard transmission and each of our young drivers have had to learn how to drive with a stick shift and how to use a clutch. The third gear has been broken for 15 of those 20 years, and all drivers have quickly become accustomed to shifting from 2nd gear to 4th gear, bypassing 3rd gear. It has seen a lot of adventures:

• It has been tipped on its side by a certain driver while going down a steep hill;
• It has been crashed into by a non-observant college student which resulted in a small claims court case that we (Andy) won;
• It has had a side window broken out and was vandalized while parked in student housing;
• It was been the college car for Jordan, Claire, Dave and Andy (with Jordan using it the least and yes, she is still bitter about that);
• It was Rick's work car for the first part of its life;
• It came with a really nice sounding stereo system installed and a certain someone took it out and installed a sub-standard stereo system with sub-woofers and a huge base pounding in the truck;
• Rick and I hit a deer in the Nissan while driving to Manti to attend a wedding.  It could have been bad news, but Rick avoided hitting the dear head on and instead the animal hit the side view mirror and tore it completely off.  I'm sure the deer had a bad headache after that encounter with the Nissan.
• When a certain person was pulling out of a parking garage, they hit a person on a bike which left a dent in the front right fender that is still there;
• Our four cherished children rode down in it to AZ one summer (if they had been involved in a high speed crash, there would have been no survivors);
• Upon Andy's return from his mission, it got a new paint job and was changed from dark green to black, with new tires and four fancy hubcaps for $19.99;  
• Rick has graciously paid the insurance and the taxes and registration on it for all those years;
• It was paid off many, many years ago, but the driver who took over the car also had to take on any repairs what were needed;
• It has probably done more wheelees in parking lots and has been driven too fast and over four wheeling terrain more times than I know about.

And...it just keeps on going.  It has 165,494 miles on it which is really quite low considering how old it is.  It is strictly an around town car, but it has served us well.  When Andy and Chelsea got married, we sold it to them for $1.  They now get to maintain it, insure it and register it.  At least it's still a member of the family. We love you little Nissan Sentra. Long may she live.  Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.  Grandma Mayme would be proud.  

An amazing discovery

A few weeks ago I was doing a search for some information and I put my dad's name in a Google search.  It brought up some interesting family history.  Among the amazing things I discovered was this link to a blog from a distant cousin.  I found out that we are related through our father's line to the little girl Emilie Parker who was killed in the Sandy Hook tragedy.  My heart goes out to the Parker family even more, knowing that we are distantly related. Be sure to read down several entries in her

blog to read some fascinating stories about Thomas Griffin and mention of our grandfather and our father as missionaries for the LDS church.  Good, good reading about family on my dad's fraternal side of the family.

I also found this interesting link to more family history on my dad's maternal side of the family.   Did you know that Andrew S. Heggie donated many of his pictures and journals/writings to the library at Utah State University?  I'm interested to go visit the library at USU very soon and see what is there.  Here is a link to some of the information that is contained in the collection. Here is a tickler of what is available:

Scope and Content:

This collection consists of the personal photographs and books of remembrance of Andrew L. Heggie and his wife Corinne Godfrey Heggie spanning from the late nineteenth century through the 1990s. A photographic record of LDS missions, LDS church activity, family, and friends are also included. Because of the nature of the books, many documents such as Birth certificates, school certificates, greeting cards, weddings announcements, and personal reminiscences are also included.

Biographical Note:

Andrew Loosle Heggie (1905 - 2001) and Corinne Godfrey Heggie (1911 - ) were lifelong residents of Clarkston, Utah. Both were born to prominent families in the area. Andrew Heggie was the oldest son and fifth of eight chidren born to Andrew Stewart and Mary Loosle Heggie. Corinne Godfrey Heggie was the second daughter and fifth of eight children born to Thomas Henry and Lucy Ellen Barson Godfrey. Andrew and Corinne Heggie were married on May 23, 1938, in the Salt Lake Temple. Their only son, Don, died as an infant. Andrew and Corinne both attended Utah State Agricultural College. Andrew graduating with a bachelors in 1933 and Corinne with a teaching certificate in English in 1932. Andrew Heggie also attended the General Motors Institute Auto Mechanics Training Program for teachers in Flint, Michigan, in 1938. Heggie farmed and taught a driver's education and automotive maintenance course at Bear River High School for seven years. In 1947, he served as mayor of Clarkston. Corinne Godfrey Heggie worked as a teacher for several years and also ran the Clarkston post office after her sister-in-law Mayme Heggie Griffin retired in 1973. Both Andrew and Corinne Heggie served in several LDS Church positions. Corinne Heggie spent many years as a teacher in the Sunday School. Andrew Heggie served as the bishop of his ward for seven years, as well as the Sunday School Superintendant. From 1927 to 1930, Heggie served a missionary in the LDS Swiss-German mission. From 1953 to 1955, Andrew and Corinne Heggie served full time in the East German Mission. They were also avid genealogists and this collection is an accumulation of their work.

Arrangement Note:

The collection has been kept in the original order as compiled by Andrew and Corinne Heggie. Boxes 1, 1a, and 3 are for the most part arranged chronologically by topic. The majority of the photos are identified and some are accompanied by descriptive reminiscences. Box 2 contains three tin-types from the late nineteenth century. Boxes 4 & 5 are arranged more sporadically. While the photos are identified, they do not appear to be in any particular order. The photographs are principally snapshots taken by Andrew and Corinne. Some professional photographs are included, usually in the form of missionary and engagement portraits. All descriptions entered in full quotations (" ") are taken directly from the albums. The photos are maintained in their original order and mounting. Andrew Heggie's book of remembrance has been removed from its cover with the original pages (in the original sleeves) in acid-free folders.

I had the thought while I was reading about these histories, that our ancestors blazed the trail for us to follow and it is our DUTY and PRIVILEGE to follow in their footsteps.  I'm so proud of my courageous and faith-filled ancestors and hope that I will always remain a strong link in the chain that connects the generations.  

The sisterhood of the traveling wedding dress(es)

Rick and I got married on June 16 of 1979.  At the time I was having trouble finding a wedding dress that fit and one that I could afford.  I was 5' 10" and weighed 120 pounds.  Not many wedding dresses were available off the rack that would fit such a frame.  I started looking in wedding magazines and came across this pictures of the dress I instantly fell in love with.  Since I was finishing up my final semester at BYU I didn't have time to sew the dress myself.  I found a seamstress and took the picture to her and told her that I wanted her to make the exact dress shown in the picture in the magazine.  She charged me $150 for the fabric and for her time and made me this beautiful dress that could be worn in the LDS temple.  The seamstress made the veil with a Juliette cap and I was so happy with the finished product.

January 1979

June 1979

The dress traveled on and some years later, my sister Lee was in the market for a wedding dress.  She and Mike were preparing to be married and she asked if she could wear my dress.  Since she was the same height and weight, the dress worked perfectly for her.  She added the white hat shown below and made it her own, just like the original picture.  She looked beautiful in the traveling wedding dress on her special day.

June 1985

After Lee wore the dress, I carefully packed it in my mom's cedar chest that I had inherited and it sat there for nearly 30 years.  I wrapped it in blue tissue paper that I was told would keep it from yellowing and put it in a box for storage in the cedar chest.  When our own two daughters got married, I didn't even remember that the dress was in my cedar chest.  I regret that we didn't even get it out and have them try it on!  It would have been fun for them to at least try it on, even if they wouldn't have chosen it for their own wedding dress.

Fast forward to February 2013.  My future daughter-in-law Chelsea was preparing to marry our son Andy.  We went out on a wedding dress shopping spree and she tried on several beautiful dresses.  She couldn't find exactly what she was looking for.  I asked her to describe what she wanted.  She described the lower half of my wedding dress.  She wanted a soft, flowing fabric that would look great at the beach in the breeze.  She didn't want it to be too fussy, and not have lace or beading.  She wanted a soft cross-over fabric top with a "flutter sleeve" that looked elegant and classy.  I told her about my dress and invited her to try it on.  The bottom half was just what she wanted!  I don't know why she didn't want the bell sleeves, stand up lace color and lace jacket with the pearl buttons all the way down the back that went with it, but alas, she did not.  I told her I could take the top off my dress and sew her a new top that met her specifications.  She was thrilled!  Through a series of miracles we found matching fabric and the challenge was underway to make my dress her own.  I'll admit that there was literally blood (needle pricked fingers), sweat and tears along the way by the seamstress, but at last, the dress of her dreams came to be! We took the Juliette cap off my veil and attached it to a new hair comb and the matching fabric from my veil was the final touch to go with her dress.  She looked beautiful in a dress that was 34 years old on the bottom and brand new on the top.  (Thank goodness the 34 year old zipper held up as well.)  She was the most beautiful bride I had ever seen on June 14, 2013 in the Los Angeles, LDS temple.

June 2013

Another family wedding dress has also had a great history.  In January of 2004 we were on the lookout for a wedding dress for Jordan.  Given her tall stature and slim figure, once again we were faced with a similar problem of finding a dress that fit.   After a fruitless search for a dress, I proceeded to make a wedding dress for Jordan and three months later, Claire wore the same dress. I was quite relieved that I didn't have to make two dresses since my two daughters got married three months apart.

May 2004

August 2004

Six years later, my niece Jessica was looking for a wedding dress.  Coincidentally, she is the daughter of my sister Lee who wore my dress all those years ago.  She tried on the dress I made for Jordan and Claire and loved it.  She made it her own my adding the red ribbon and the white fur cape for her winter wedding.  She looked stunning. 

December 2010

So, that's it. The end of the story of the sisterhood of the traveling wedding dress(es)...or is it?  Two dresses...six weddings.  Each look unique and beautiful.  Will the dresses travel on?

40 year reunion...really??

We are all in this together.  We need each other, oh, how we need each other.  Those of us who are old need you are who are young.  And, hopefully, you who are young need some of us who are old.  It is a sociological fact that women need women.  We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other.  These friendships are a necessary source of sustenance.

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I got to attend my 40 year high school class reunion last Friday night.  It was wonderful!  Rick was planning to go with me, but at the last minute his dad became ill and he went to help him.  He encouraged me to forge on to Idaho myself to attend the dinner that evening. I'm so glad he did.  I was a little nervous going by myself and seeing people I haven't seen for years, especially since I don't look like I use to (and neither do they!).  As soon as I walked into the door I felt at ease.  We were given name tags with our old high school pictures on them along with our maiden names.  I immediately saw old friends who I haven't seen in years.  I was such a sweet reunion.  We talked and talked, enjoyed dinner, a program and then more visiting afterward.  Our graduating class in 1973 was one of the largest that even graduated from the high school.  It was about 385 students and since it was a county high school, people came from some distance to attend the school.  Someone had prepared a slide show of old pictures from back in the day.  It was fun to see the long hair from the early 70s, the clothes, the prom dresses and some of the activities we use to do.  Title 9 wasn't in effect then, and it was amazing to see that we didn't have very many sports for girls.  It was a walk down memory lane. I haven't seen some of those friends for 20 or more years, since we only have a reunion every 10 years.  It was so fun to find out what they have been doing with their lives.  

The next morning, we had an LDS seminary reunion at the seminary building.  One of our class mates, Bruce N. spoke about directing the new LDS church Bible videos.  It was fascinating!  Again, it was so wonderful to see old friends and to learn about all the good they are doing in the world.  Although we didn't take any pictures, we exchanged email address and promised to "friend" each other on Facebook to stay in touch.  I told them that I'm so proud to be from Rupert, Idaho.  I'm proud of the community, for the values I was taught, for learning to live the "Rupert Way."  I attribute my core values and beliefs not only to my parents and family, but to my neighborhood and community.  I'll be forever grateful for being raised in a farming community with good, down-to-earth people who exemplify the values of what matters  most in life.

 Go Minico Spartans!

A trip back in time

Rick's 2nd home from grade school through post mission in SLC

Rick's 1st childhood home in SLC

 My childhood home in Rupert, ID

Last weekend we went on a little road trip to Logan, UT and then on to Rupert, ID and finally we looked around the area in Salt Lake City, UT where Rick grew up.  We had a great time visiting with my sister Janet and her husband Dave and seeing two of her sons Dustin and Cameron and their families.  We drove out to Oakley, ID to visit the rodeo family and enjoyed going in to Burley for lunch with them.  Dustin and his family came over to visit both nights we were there and we enjoyed catching up with them.  Take a look at this TV interview Dustin did a few weeks ago.  He is both handsome and articulate and I'm very proud of him.  He is doing a great job with his employment and his family!

Whenever Rick and I drive around the areas where we grew up, we are flooded with memories and good feelings about our past lives.  We feel so fortunate to have been raised by goodly parents who taught us by their examples how to live life and how to contribute to society.  Rick always wants to know more about the people, the places and the stories of life in a farming community.  I love to hear his stories about growing up in a city and walking up the hill both ways to his piano lessons.  We usually share some new story that comes to mind that we haven't heard before.  We are such great friends and we enjoy our road trips so much because we have a chance to visit, to reminisce and to share our thought and feelings about a myriad of topics.

I'm also struck my the thought that we have seen the hand of the Lord in our lives, manifest countless times by the little happenings that came along the way.  Some people call them tender mercies, some people call them coincidences, and I like to just call them evidences of our Savior's love and proof that He is aware of us and in control of things.  He gave me a great family and location to be raised in and He gave me opportunities galore for growth and a happy life.  I feel so blessed and so fortunate to have countless blessings in my life. 

4th of July BBQ

It all started in Rupert, Idaho. Each year my parents would invite some of our Utah cousins to come to Rupert to celebrate the 4th of July. Some years they would invite my dad's side of the family and other years it would be my mom's side of the family. They would plan a full day of activities. The aunts and uncles would arrive with their cars loaded with desserts and punksters. We'd have a big breakfast on the patio and then head to town for the annual 4th of July parade. It was complete with lots of horses and old cars, along with a couple of marching bands, floats and a few drill teams that our dad affectionately called the "golden butts." After the parade, we'd head home for the BBQ on the patio and then we'd play games all day long. Volleyball, badminton, horse shoes, croquette. One year dad borrowed a little Shetland pony from the neighbors for us to ride. It took off with cousin Scott on it's back and I can still hear the cries of "help me Uncle Earl" as the pony ran off down the lane. If we were really lucky, dad would have his weekly turn of irrigation water from the Snake River. If we had our turn, then the ditches would be full of irrigation water for us to swim in and it would flood out on the lawn and we would play our games in several inches of water. Good, good times were had at these family gatherings.
After eating ourselves sick and then playing all day, we'd usually head into town to attend the carnival that would come to town for the big celebration. My favorite rides were the til-ta-whirl and the Farris wheel. We'd eat a bunch of cotton candy and snow cones and be completely sick by the end of the night. We'd head home for some fireworks and sparklers on the lawn before heading to bed. Sometimes all the cousins would sleep outside on the old army cots either in or outside of our old canvas tent and get about 25 mosquito bites during the course of the night. If we were really lucky, we'd also attend the county rodeo during the weekend celebrations. It was a good-ole-fashion-country-Idaho-good-time. I'd like to go back some year and participate again for old times sake. If only I could get my family to go along...I'm afraid they are too tied to our own 4th of July ways.







We carried on the 4th of July tradition with our own little family years later. We had a few little kids and a small wading pool. We invited our family members to come and over the years the most faithful attenders have been Rick's brother Doug, his sister Margie, my sister Carol and their families, along with Rick's parents.
We'd start the day out right by attending the Provo Grand Parade. Then we'd head home and have a BBQ on the patio, followed by games, a watermelon bust and water activities. Since we didn't have access to a large swimming pool, we would use the little wading pool and a slip-and -slide for some great activities. We started the tradition of the "head dunking" in which everyone including the adults participated. We would enjoy sparklers at night and we would just enjoy hanging out, eating great food and playing with each other all day long. There was nothing better!
Seventeen years ago we moved into our current house where we have a swimming pool and a large park just out of the backyard gate. The traditions still include the parade, the BBQ, swimming and sparklers, but now the group has grown substantially. Rick's parents, his brother Doug, sisters Ann and Margie still attend. Carol and her family have been great supporters over the years as well. We've invited other friends to attend over the years and many of them ask to come back again and again. This year we had a group of around 70 and it was a lot of fun. Our college friend David C. and his family came this year. We loved having them with us for the day of activities. Everyone brings food to share and they bring their own meat to grill. Somehow it all works out and we enjoy ourselves to the max.
Here was the food assignment list for this year:
4 dozen hamburger buns
2 dozen hot dog buns
condiments - mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickles, onion, cheese, lettuce, etc.
chips
pasta salad
veggie platter and dip
2 large watermelons
some cookies and or brownies to go with the ice cream
potato salad
green salad
baked beans
jello salad
fruit platter
homemade ice cream x 2
briquettes
paper products
homemade root beer
Needless to say, we didn't go hungry.

We love to celebrate the birthday of the United States of America, the greatest land there is where we enjoy freedom and democracy. It's not a perfect country and we have our problems, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. It is the land I love.

6~16~1979

Who is that blond haired young man and that girl with the permed bouffant hair style?
I love looking at this pictures with our families, our grandmothers, our siblings and other family and friends who could share the day with us.
We honeymooned in Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. We stayed a night in two five start hotels, the Brown Palace in downtown Denver and the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs.


We've been at it 32 years now. That's kind of incredible to me because it seems like a long time in some ways and such a short time in other ways. It's been a wonderful journey and I hope we have an unlimited number to go. To infinity and beyond, as the saying goes. We went to the temple tonight to do temple sealings of husbands to wives and children to parents for those who have passed on. Once again we were reminded of the power and blessings of the sealing covenant that make our marriage endure beyond the grave.
The best gifts my husband has given me are his devotion, his faithfulness, his trust, his love, his loyalty, his hard work and his great sense of humor. Not to mention that I also got 4 amazing children out of the deal. All in all, it has been a great ride!
I love you dear blue-eyed, less-hair, tall, handsome man.

Oceanside then and now

This is Rick's Grandma Pingree. She has a wonderful grandmother and a very generous person. When Rick was a little boy, she would take her daughter and three sons and their families to Capistrano for a beach vacation. Rick grew up loving the ocean. When we got married, Gram Pingree once again took her children and their children to the beach. The first year we went was in 1986 and we went for a week to a beach house in San Diego. Here are some pictures from that trip of our little girls Jordan and Claire with their cousin Catherine. It's one of my all time favorite pictures.
We also went to Sea World that year and 1 1/2 year old Dave accidentally threw his pacifier into the shark tank. Aunt Robyn reached and pulled it out since it was a needed item for a peaceful beach trip, risking her arm for a happy Dave and grateful parents.

Rick loves swimming in the ocean like no other person I know. He will even go at night, during the winter and will swim and boogie board for hours at a time. He's pretty intrepid if you ask me.
This was our beach house in Oceanside in 1987, compliments of Gram Pingree again. We all stayed in this spacious house for a week and had a wonderful time. Our kids came to LOVE the ocean as children and they all love to go in it and have a good time now.

Back we go again to Oceanside in 1988 thanks to Gram, this time with an expectant mommy Vonnie. Our kids loved to play in the surf and sand for hours at a time with the cousins and many, many happy memories were made.






In 1991 we went to San Diego for a week while Rick attended a conference. Mom went with us and we were able to spend time at the beach, go to the San Diego Zoo and Disneyland and see Phantom of the Opera. It was a trip to remember. The kids love to tell the tale of listening to Phantom all the way back to Utah...all 11 hours of the trip with me explaining the plot to Mom.


In 1992 we went back to Oceanside for a week at a beach house with Rick's family. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and enjoying the sand, once again.




In 1996 we spent a day at the beach in Newport while we were there for a football game.
In 2001 and 2002 we spend a week at the beaches near LaJolla while visiting Rick's parents who were serving their LDS mission at the institute at SDSU.

When Rick turned 50 in 2005 his wish was to go to the beach, which is exactly what we did.
In 2006 we got off the a cruise ship and spend a half day at a great beach in Newport.
We've logged quiet a few days at the beaches in Southern California!

When we talked to our kids last year about the idea of us giving them a vacation for their Christmas present, they all said they wanted to go to the beach! I wonder why? Oceanside has become a favorite place to go and this year was no exception. It was one of the best vacation weeks ever! It was so great to be with our family and to enjoy the company of each other and make some more wonderful beach memories.